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Volume CXXXIII, Number 4 |
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Dropkick Murphy's: they're not your average
Celtic punk band
SEAN O'HARA
Staff Writer
The first time I heard the Dropkick Murphys, I was in a local Hot Topic,
known to many mallrats as "the scary goth store." It was while
leaving the store that I suddenly stopped and began listening to the tinny
music being played over the speakers. I had recognized the lyrics to the
Irish folk song "Rock Road to Dublin," but it was played by
a punk band. Being a fan of Celtic music, I stopped, listened until the
end of the song, and promptly asked the woman at the counter who the song
was by. She informed me that the band was called the Dropkick Murphys,
and I have been a fan ever since.
If you've ever liked punk music but hated the wail of bagpipes,
or ever loved Celtic folk but avoided anything with guitars, you owe it
to yourself to investigate the Dropkick Murphys. Either way, you'll change
your tune, and most likely find yourself singing along with the catchy
anthems that fill this Boston band's newest album, Sing Loud, Sing Proud.
The Murphys fuse the driving guitars and growling vocals of punk with
traditional Celtic instruments such as the bagpipe, penny-whistle and
mandolin to create a memorable and unique sound that--to put it bluntly--kicks
butt. Mixing bagpipes and guitars may sound like a discordant combination,
but in the hands of the Murphys, the two sound like they were meant for
each other. The innovative mesh of instruments adds more richness and
thickness to the music than a pint full of Guinness.
But the melody isn't the only forte of Sing Loud, Sing Proud.
The gritty lyrics, focusing on hardship and struggle, add another dimension
to their music . Nearly all of their songs both celebrate and lament all
aspects of life. Songs such as "The Gauntlet," "Heroes
from Our Past," "Whose Side Are You On?" and "A Few
Good Men" are all about hardened men who roll up their sleeves and
fight for their beliefs. The album also features wild drinking anthems,
such as "Good Rats" and "The Wild Rover," as well
as ballads, like "The Torch" and "Caps and Bottles,"
that recognize those who are crushed under the pressure of their hard
lives.
What does this all add up to? Sixteen incredible, earthy, full-blooded, energy-packed tracks that simply dare you not to sing along. With their unique sound and blue-collar spirit, the Dropkick Murphys simply should not be missed by anyone with any interest in rock, punk or Celtic music.